| You've loved horses ever since you were a kid and | | | | lessons? Ask yourself what you really love about |
| have always dreamed of owning one. You've spent | | | | horses. If you love things like mucking out, grooming, |
| the last three years taking horseback riding lessons. | | | | feeding, and taking care of horses, then you would |
| You know how to tack up, muck out, and have read | | | | probably make a great horse owner!o Do you have |
| just about every book out there on the care and | | | | the time for horse ownership? No more showing up at |
| feeding of horses. No one can doubt that you've put | | | | the barn, riding for an hour, and then heading home to |
| your time in. Horses are no fleeting fancy, but are a | | | | your real life. When you are a horse owner, horses |
| hobby that is here to stay! | | | | are your real life. If you travel frequently, can't or don't |
| So, are you ready to buy your first horse? Well, | | | | want to commit to a regular schedule, or have a very |
| before you break out your checkbook you need to | | | | busy work or family life, then this might not be the right |
| take stock of a few things in your life to determine | | | | time in your life for horse ownership. Remember, |
| whether horse ownership is right for you.o Do you | | | | horses must be fed, watered, and cared for according |
| have the knowledge? How much time have you really | | | | to schedule, and it's up to you to be able to maintain |
| spent around horses, and has it been hands-on? If you | | | | that schedule.o Do you have the space for a horse? |
| ride at a fancy stable that tacks and untacks your | | | | You either need good accommodations at home, or |
| horse for you then guess what? You aren't having the | | | | you need to find a place to board your horse. If you |
| full horse experience! Make sure you know what is | | | | are keeping your horse at home, at the very least he |
| really involved in caring for, feeding, and cleaning up | | | | needs two grassy acres, a run-in shed, and an |
| after your horse. A great way to learn about all that is | | | | adequate water supply. If you keep your horse at |
| involved in horse ownership, without making a | | | | home you also need to know that he'll appreciate |
| long-term commitment, is to lease a horse. Try leasing | | | | some company. It's best if you have room for an |
| a horse for a year or two and then decide if horse | | | | additional horse, a goat, or some other companionable |
| ownership is really for you.o Now that you know what | | | | animal. |
| is involved, do you have the desire? Horse ownership | | | | Remember, owning a horse is hard work and can be |
| is a tremendous amount of work. Are you up for it? If | | | | extremely taxing on your time and resources. Before |
| you aren't, that's perfectly okay. If you really love riding | | | | you embark on the exciting journey of horse |
| horses but don't enjoy all the extra stuff that goes | | | | ownership, make sure you are ready! |
| along with them, then why not just keep taking riding | | | | |